• The Board of Governors is happy with the way suspensions are being doled out. Interesting stat in this one from Sheriff Shanny: of the approximately 55,000 hits that are delivered over the course of the season, only about 50-100 are problematic.

• The NHL is willing to field inquiries about expansion, but there's no rush to push the league to 32 teams. "Everything in due time," said Gary Bettman, who probably wants to enjoy having 30 stable owners for perhaps the first time in his tenure before he decides to add to the family.

• Steve Yzerman is coming to the reunion after all. After much debate, the Tampa Bay/Team Canada GM is putting aside his other duties for a day or two to skate for the Red Wings at the Winter Classic Alumni Game. It wouldn't have been the same without him.

• Maybe someone wised Yzerman up to how critical these outdoor events have become to the marketing of the game. This winter is a key test for how often (or even if) the success of an event like the Winter Classic can be replicated.

• Rookie Valeri Nichushkinsounds pretty cocky about his chances to make the Russian Olympic team. Not sure I like his odds as much, but I can say that three Russian scouts watched him in action twice over the last week, so he's at least getting a good look.

• Ilya Kovalchuk says Semyon Varlamov should reunite with the woman accusing him of domestic abuse and help her get what she really wants: a green card. Yep, that's really what he said.

• Former Olympian Marty Turco explains what went wrong for Team Canada in Turin in 2006 and lays out how those problems can be avoided in Sochi. Pretty interesting to hear him say that not everyone on the team was committed to the program.

• This is what it looks like when they change the glass in Florida. The good news? It didn't block the view of any paying customers.